The Secret Gospel of Mark

Translation by Morton Smith.

 The Secret Gospel of Mark

Table of Contents
The Secret Gospel of Mark................................................................................................................................1
Translation by Morton Smith...................................................................................................................1

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 The Secret Gospel of Mark
Translation by Morton Smith.
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From the letters of the most holy Clement, the author of the Stromateis. To Theodore.

You did well in silencing the unspeakable teachings of the Carpocrations. For these are the "wandering
stars" referred to in the prophecy, who wander from the narrow road of the commandments into a boundless
abyss of the carnal and bodily sins. For, priding themselves in knowledge, as they say, "of the deep things of
Satan", they do not know that they are casting themselves away into "the nether world of the darkness" of
falsity, and boasting that they are free, they have become slaves of servile desires. Such men are to be
opposed in all ways and altogether. For, even if they should say something true, one who loves the truth
should not, even so, agree with them. For not all true things are the truth, nor should that truth which merely
seems true according to human opinions be preferred to the true truth, that according to the faith.

Now of the things they keep saying about the divinely inspired Gospel according to Mark, some are
altogether falsifications, and others, even if they do contain some true elements, nevertheless are not reported
truly. For the true things, being mixed with inventions, are falsified, so that, as the saying goes, even the salt
loses its savor.

As for Mark, then, during Peter's stay in Rome he wrote an account of the Lord's doings, not, however,
declaring all of them, nor yet hinting at the secret ones, but selecting what he thought most useful for
increasing the faith of those who were being instructed. But when Peter died a martyr, Mark came over to
Alexandria, bringing both his own notes and those of Peter, from which he transferred to his former book the
things suitable to whatever makes for progress toward knowledge. Thus he composed a more spiritual Gospel
for the use of those who were being perfected. Nevertheless, he yet did not divulge the things not to be
uttered, nor did he write down the hierophantic teaching of the Lord, but to the stories already written he
added yet others and, moreover, brought in certain sayings of which he knew the interpretation would, as a
mystagogue, lead the hearers into the innermost sanctuary of that truth hidden by seven veils. Thus, in sum,
he prepared matters, neither grudgingly nor incautiously, in my opinion, and, dying, he left his composition
to the church in 1, verso Alexandria, where it even yet is most carefully guarded, being read only to those
who are being initiated into the great mysteries.

But since the foul demons are always devising destruction for the race of men, Carpocrates, instructed by
them and using deceitful arts, so enslaved a certain presbyter of the church in Alexandria that he got from
him a copy of the secret Gospel, which he both interpreted according to his blasphemous and carnal doctrine
and, moreover, polluted, mixing with the spotless and holy words utterly shameless lies. From this mixture is
drawn off the teaching of the Carpocratians.

To them, therefore, as I said above, one must never give way; nor, when they put forward their falsifications,
should one concede that the secret Gospel is by Mark, but should even deny it on oath. For, "Not all true
things are to be said to all men". For this reason the Wisdom of God, through Solomon, advises, "Answer the
fool from his folly", teaching that the light of the truth should be hidden from those who are mentally blind.
Again it says, "From him who has not shall be taken away", and "Let the fool walk in darkness". But we are
"children of Light", having been illuminated by "the dayspring" of the spirit of the Lord "from on high", and

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 The Secret Gospel of Mark

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is", it says, "there is liberty", for "All things are pure to the pure".

To you, therefore, I shall not hesitate to answer the questions you have asked, refuting the falsifications by
the very words of the Gospel. For example, after "And they were in the road going up to Jerusalem" and what
follows, until "After three days he shall arise", the secret Gospel brings the following material word for
word:

"And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was there. And, coming, she
prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, 'Son of David, have mercy on me.' But the disciples rebuked
her. And Jesus, being angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway a
great cry was heard from the tomb. And going near, Jesus rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb.
And straightaway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand.
But the youth, looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him. And going
out of the tomb, they came into the house of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days Jesus told him what
to do, and in the evening the youth comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained
with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God. And thence, arising, he returned
to the other side of the Jordan."

After these words follows the text, "And James and John come to him", and all that section. But "naked man
with naked man," and the other things about which you wrote, are not found.

And after the words, "And he comes into Jericho," the secret Gospel adds only, "And the sister of the youth
whom Jesus loved and his mother and Salome were there, and Jesus did not receive them." But the many
other things about which you wrote both seem to be, and are, falsifications.

Now the true explanation, and that which accords with the true philosophy ...

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